Rotary angle encoder having an adjustable coupling

ABSTRACT

A rotary angle encoder in which the adjustment of the sensor signal desired in the starting position can be changed by simple manipulation. In the rotary angle encoder set forth herein, upon assembly, the coupling is slid only partially onto a cylindrical shaft connected to the sensor part in a first position. In this first position, the coupling can be rotated in relation to the sensor part. Then the sensor signal desired in the starting position is set and after that, the coupling is slid still further onto the cylindrical shaft so that an unintentional rotation of both parts in relation to each other is not possible after the adjustment is complete. The rotary angle encoder is provided for controlling the power of a vehicle drive unit.

PRIOR ART

The invention is based on a rotary angle encoder for controlling a driveunit for control devices.

There are rotary angle encoders for electric control devices orregulating devices, for example like the ones used for electric motoradjustments of throttle valves of internal combustion engines. Acoupling part of the rotary angle encoder can be adjusted by a gas pedalcoupled to it.

There are rotary angle encoders (DE-A-34 11 455) with a first sensorpart disposed fixed in a housing and with a second sensor part, which issupported so that it can rotate in relation to the housing or the firstsensor part and which can be adjusted in the direction of rotation via acoupling connected to the gas pedal. Depending upon the relativeposition of the second sensor part in relation to the first sensor part,the rotary angle encoder generates a sensor signal via an electricalline, which signal can be supplied to an electronic evaluation device.

In a rotary angle encoder, it is particularly important that when thecoupling is disposed in a starting position, the sensor signal has aparticular, defined value. Often, the sensor signal is defined so thatwhen the coupling is disposed in its starting position, the initialsignal is zero.

In the known rotary angle encoder, the second sensor part is connectedto a rotary shaft on which a conical fluting is provided. Whenassembled, the coupling part is pressed against the fluting via a nut.To adjust the rotary angle encoder, this nut is loosened and thecoupling is rotated in relation to the rotary shaft until the sensorsignal has the desired value in the particular starting position of thecoupling part. After the adjustment of the rotary angle encoder, the nutis tightened so that the coupling part is fixed in relation to thesecond sensor part.

The known embodiment has the particular disadvantage that the nuteventually loosens. Furthermore, subsequent improper manipulations andchanges of the adjustment can easily occur.

Incidentally,this kind of adjustment is not particularly easy and inlarge-scale mass production, requires an expenditure which should not beignored.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The rotary angle encoder embodied according to the invention has theparticular advantage over the prior art of an essentially more reliable,simpler, and better potential adjustment.

The rotary angle encoder advantageously permits a structural form whichis easy to assemble and reasonably priced. The rotary angle encoder canbe advantageously embodied so that only detent connections or pressconnections are required. Problematic screw connections can beeliminated.

Advantageous updates and improvements of the rotary angle encoder arepossible as a result of the steps taken herein.

Providing a cylindrical shaft either on the second sensor part or on thecoupling produces a simple, advantageous possibility for adjusting thecoupling part in relation to the second sensor part, from the firstposition into the second position.

By providing a frictional, non-positive connection between the couplingand the second sensor part in the first position, a relative rotation ofthe second sensor part in relation to the coupling part canadvantageously be easily achieved and by providing a positively engagingconnection between the coupling part and the second sensor part, theadvantage is achieved that in the second position, an unintendedrelative rotation of the coupling part in relation to the second sensorpart is reliably prevented.

The use of the cylindrical shaft to support the second sensor part andthe coupling part essentially simplifies the construction of the rotaryangle encoder.

In a particularly simple manner, the snap device prevents an unintendedadjustment of the relative position of the coupling part in relation tothe second sensor part, from the second position into the firstposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A selected, particularly advantageous exemplary embodiment of the rotaryangle encoder is shown in a simplified manner in the drawings and isexplained in detail in the subsequent description. By way of example,FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through the exemplary embodiment,and FIG. 2 shows an end view of the exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

The rotary angle encoder embodied according to the invention can be usedto control various drive units. The drive unit may be an Otto engine,for example, whose throttle valve is adjusted with an adjusting motor.In this case, the rotary angle encoder is used for generating electricalsignals which are supplied to the adjusting motor which adjusts thethrottle valve. The drive unit, though, can also be a diesel engine oran electric motor; in this case, too, the rotary angle encoder generateselectrical signals which, correspondingly converted, control the powerof the drive unit. The rotary angle encoder can normally be actuated viaa gas pedal.

By way of example, FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through thepreferred, selected exemplary embodiment. A housing 2 is shown. Thehousing 2 encloses an inner chamber 6. The housing 2 is embodied ascup-shaped and has a cylinder region 2 a and an end face region 2 b. Theinner chamber 6 is enclosed or closed off in the radial direction by thecylinder region 2 a and in the axial direction on one end by the endface region 2 b of the housing 2 and on the other end by a plastic part10. Any easily formed and electrically non-conducting material can beused as the material for the plastic part 10. The plastic part 10 has anend face 11 oriented toward the inner chamber 6. To improve thetightness of the inner chamber 6 in relation to the surroundings, a seal8 is provided between the plastic part 10 and the cylinder region 2 a ofthe housing 2. Detent tabs can be formed on the plastic part 10, whichengage in detent recesses provided on the housing 2. This allows asimple detent connection of the plastic part 10 and the housing 2without any screws. When assembled, the plastic part 10 constitutes acomponent of the housing 2. An opening 12 is provided in the end faceregion 2 b of the housing 2. An essentially cylindrical shaft 14 extendsthrough the opening 12. The cylindrical part 14 is embodied in the formof a rotary shaft. The cylindrical shaft 14 has a first end 16 whichprotrudes into the inner chamber 6, a central part 17 which extendsthrough the opening 12, and a second end 18 which extends outward. Thecylindrical shaft 14 is supported in the opening 12 so that it can pivotor rotate around a rotational axis 19.

A sensor 20 is an essential component of the rotary angle encoder. Thesensor 20 includes a first sensor part 21 and a second sensor part 22.The first sensor part 21 is a component of the plastic part 10. Thefirst sensor part 21 is nonrotatably connected to the housing 2 via theplastic-part 10. The second sensor part 22 is nonrotatably connected tothe cylindrical shaft 14, nonrotatably formed onto the cylindrical shaft14, or embodied of one piece together with the cylindrical part 14. Thesecond sensor part 22, together with the cylindrical shaft 14 issupported so that it can pivot around the rotational axis by aparticular angle of rotation in relation to the housing 2 and thereforein relation to the first sensor part 21.

An electrically conducting resistance strip, which is used as a contactstrip 24, is printed on the end face 11 of the plastic part 10 orientedtoward the inner chamber 6. The contact strip 24 has a very slightthickness. For clarity, the thickness of the contact strip 24 is showngreatly exaggerated in the drawing. FIG. 1 shows the plastic part 10 andthe contact strip 24 in cross section.

A contact point 26 is disposed on the second sensor part 22. The contactpoint 26 is embodied for example as an electrical slider. The contactpoint 26 of the second sensor part 22 electrically contacts the contactstrip 24 of the first sensor part 21, at least intermittently, dependingupon the relative position of the first sensor part 21 in relation tothe second sensor part 22. In the exemplary embodiment shown, threeother contact points 26 a, 26 b, 26 c, which are embodied in the form ofsliders, are connected to the second sensor part 22. The additionalcontact points 26 a, 26 b, 26 c, electrically contact other contactstrips 24 a, 24 b, 24 c printed on the end face 11 of the plastic part10. The two contact points 26, 26 a are for example electricallyconnected to each other.

Depending upon the relative angle of rotation of the second sensor part22 in relation to the first sensor part 21, sensor signals are receivedat plug contacts 66 f, 66 f′, which are described in more detail furtherbelow. These sensor signals are analog or digital, depending upon theembodiment of the contact strips 24, 24 a, 24 b, 24 c or the contactpoints 26, 26 a, 26 b, 26 c. A plurality of redundant sensor signals canalso be received. The rotary angle encoder can be embodied so that oneof the sensor signals is analog (potentiometer function) and anothersensor signal is digital (switch function).

A stop element 29 is connected to the cylindrical shaft 14 or isconnected directly to the second sensor part 22. And a stop element 30is connected to the second sensor shaft 22 or the cylindrical part 14.

FIG. 2 shows an end view of the rotary angle encoder, which has beenchosen by way of example for the description.

In the two drawing figures, parts that are the same or have the samefunction are provided with the same reference numerals.

The rotary angle encoder includes a coupling 33. The coupling 33 isconnected to a gas pedal, not shown, for example via transfer meanswhich are not shown. The coupling 33 can be adjusted around therotational axis 19 by actuating the gas pedal. A somewhat larger lever34 and a somewhat smaller lever 36 are formed onto the coupling 33 (FIG.2). The coupling 33 is formed so that viewed in the simplest terms, thedifference can be told between an axial part 38 and a radial part 39.The radial part 39 has an essentially larger diameter than the axialpart 38. The axial part 38 extends coaxially to the rotational axis 19.A bore 40, which is embodied as stepped, is provided in the axial shaft38.

The second end 18 of the cylindrical part 14 can be divided into a firstregion 41, which has a relatively smooth, cylindrical surface, and asecond region 42, which has a profile. Considered in the circumferencedirection, the profile in region 42 has projections and indentations.The projections and indentations in region 42 extend parallel to therotational axis 19, for example, and are therefore symbolicallyrepresented in FIG. 1 as lines extending parallel to the rotational axis19.

The region 41 with the cylindrical surface has a diameter which isslightly greater than the diameter of the bore 40. Therefore if theaxial part 38 of the coupling 33 is slid onto the second end 18 of thecylindrical shaft 14 so far that a part of the region 41 or the entireregion 41 with the cylindrical surface is disposed inside the bore 40 ofthe coupling 33, but the second region 42 is disposed outside the bore40, then a mutual rotation of the coupling 33 in relation to thecylindrical part 14 and therefore in relation to the second sensor part22 can be easily achieved by exerting a particular torque. The torquedesired for the rotation or the torque suitable for the adjustment ofthe rotary angle encoder can be selected by means of the constructivechoice of compression between the cylindrical part 14 in the region 41and the bore 40 of the coupling 33. To rotate the coupling part 33 inrelation to the second sensor 22 or to adjust the rotary angle encoder,the region 42 with the profile is disposed outside the bore 40 of thecoupling 33. The coupling 33 is disposed in a position with regard tothe second sensor part 22 which can be described as the first position.

The projections in region 42 of the profile of the cylindrical shaft 14rise above the diameter of the region 41 of the cylindrical surface. Ifthe coupling 33 is now moved in the axial direction relative to thecylindrical shaft 14, that is parallel to the rotational axis 19, thenthe region 42 with the profile also dips into the bore 40 of thecoupling 33. This occurs because the projections of the profile inregion 42 dig into the circumference wall of the bore 40. This caneasily occur if the coupling 33, at least in the region of the bore 40,is comprised of relatively soft material or a material which can beplastically or elastically deformed, as is the case when using aconventional plastic. The region 42 with the projections should beharder than the part of the bore 40 which the projections are intendedto dig into. After the axially parallel movement of the coupling 33 inrelation to the second sensor part 22, the coupling 33 is disposed in aposition in relation to the second sensor part 22 which can be describedas the second position.

However, it is also possible to provide the region of the bore 40 of thecoupling 33, which the region 42 with the profile dips into, with acorrespondingly adapted profile as well. In this case, the profile onthe cylindrical shaft, engages in the profile on the coupling 33 and thecoupling 33 can also be comprised of relatively hard material in theregion of the bore 40.

It is also possible to provide the profile with the projections not onthe cylindrical shaft 14, but instead on the coupling 33. In thisembodiment, upon assembly, the projections of the coupling 33 dig intothe cylindrical shaft 14 after the insertion of the sensor.

With a completely inserted and assembled rotary angle encoder (secondposition), there is a positive fit connection of all elements. Thecoupling 33 is connected to the sensor part 22 with a positive fit. Atthe same time, no screws or other fastening elements are required. Also,no securing elements are needed.

As a result of compression and friction between the cylindrical shaft 14in the region 41 or 42 and the bore 40 of the coupling 33, it is alreadyassured that the coupling 33 is secured on the cylindrical shaft 14 inits provided position.

A notch of relatively small diameter can be provided in the region ofthe second end 18 of the cylindrical shaft 14. This diameter ispreferably smaller than the diameter of regions 41 and 42. When slidingthe couplings 33, which is comprised of preferably soft, elasticmaterial, onto the second end 18 of the cylindrical shaft 14, thecoupling 33 presses radially against the second end 18 and displaces apart of its material into this notch so that as a result of thisadditional measure, the coupling 33 is further prevented fromunintentionally falling off the cylindrical shaft 14. A snap device 46is constituted by the notch in the region of the second end 18. The snapdevice 46 is provided for example at the transition from the second end18 into the central part 17 of the cylindrical part 14, but can also beprovided in any other region of the second end 18 which is overlapped bythe bore 40 of the coupling shaft 33. The snap device 46 can be stillfurther improved by providing material which projects inward at the bore40 and dips into the recess.

However, it is also possible to constitute the snap device 46 byproviding a circumferential projection on the cylindrical shaft 14 whichprojection engages in a recess provided in the region of the bore 40.Since this is a simple reversal of the example shown in the drawing,there is no need to show it in the drawing as well.

The snap device 46 is not always absolutely necessary, but it furtherimproves the rotary angle encoder.

A wrench profile 48 is formed onto the end face of the second end 18 ofthe cylindrical shaft 14 connected to the sensor part 22, which end faceis remote from the central part 17. In the exemplary embodiment shown,the wrench profile 48 is a laterally extending slot in which a screwdriver can engage as a tool. While the second end 18 is only partiallyplugged into the bore 40 (first position), the cylindrical shaft 14 andhence the second sensor part 22 can be rotated in relation to thecoupling 33 via the wrench profile 48 while the cylindrical shaft 14 canbe secured, for example with a tool that fits, and the coupling 33 isrotated, or the coupling 33 can be secured and the cylindrical shaft 14can be rotated. If the coupling 33 is slid completely over the secondend 18 (second position), then a rotation is no longer possible. If onlyregion 41 is disposed inside the bore 40 (first position), then arelative rotation is possible, and if the second region 42 with itsprofile is disposed inside the bore 40 (second position), then arelative rotation of both parts 14, 33 is not possible with normalmeans. To rotationally fix the two parts 14, 33 in relation to eachother, it does not matter whether the first region 41 of the cylindricalshaft 14 protrudes axially beyond the bore 40. FIG. 1 shows the rotaryangle encoder in the second position.

In the exemplary embodiment shown (FIG. 1), the axial 38 of the couplingpart 33 protrudes in the axial direction beyond the cylindrical shaft14. In this region, the bore 40 can be closed with a molded mass 50.This prevents any possible improper attempt to rotate the coupling 33 inrelation to the second sensor part 22 and hence to improperly change theadjustment of the rotary angle encoder. In the region of the coupling 33which protrudes beyond the cylindrical shaft 14, the bore 40 can beembodied as having a narrowing, which prevents the molded mass 50 fromfalling out of the bore 40.

The rotary angle encoder includes a restoring device 56. In theexemplary embodiment shown, the restoring device 56 is constituted by arestoring spring. One end 56 a of the restoring spring engages thehousing 2 and the other respective end 56 b of the restoring spring actsupon the coupling 33 (FIG. 2). With reference to the view shown in FIG.2, the restoring device 56 acts on the coupling 33 in the clockwisedirection. The movement of the coupling 33 in the clockwise direction islimited because the smaller lever 36 of the coupling 33 comes intocontact with a first housing stop 61 provided on the housing 2. Therestoring device 56 can also include a plurality of restoring springs;these restoring springs are embodied to be strong so that there issufficient force to reliably restore the coupling 33 against the firsthousing stop 61 even when one of the restoring springs breaks.

There is a coupling point 64 on the lever 34 of the coupling 33. Forexample, a Bowden cable, not shown, which is connected to a gas pedal,can engage this coupling point 64. The Bowden cable can actuate thecoupling 33 counterclockwise (FIG. 2) and counter to the restoringdevice 56 until the lever 34 comes into contact with a second housingstop 62 provided on the housing 2.

If the coupling 33 rests against the first housing stop 61, then thiscan be described as the starting position; in this starting position,the sensor signal given off by the rotary angle encoder is intended tohave a particular value. This setting of the coupling 33 at the firsthousing stop 61 normally corresponds to the idle setting of the driveunit. Often what is desired is that in this starting position, the valueof the sensor signal is zero. If the coupling 33 rests against thesecond housing stop 62, then this is the maximal pivot angle of thedrive unit and consequently corresponds to the full load setting of thedrive unit. Since the housing stops 61, 62 are directly affixed to orformed onto the housing, these can be embodied as very sturdy with notrouble.

To adjust the rotary angle encoder (rotary angle encoder is in the firstposition), the coupling 33 is actuated against the first housing stop 61and the second sensor part 22 is adjusted with the aid of the tool thatfits until the desired value which corresponds to the idle setting ispresent at the plug contacts 66 f, 66 f′. Then the coupling 33 is pushedto the left (with reference to FIG. 1) along the axis 19. The stopelement 30 is supported against the plastic part 10. As a result, thecoupling 33 is brought from the first position into the second positionin relation to the sensor part 22.

An electrical line 66 is cast into the plastic part 10 (FIG. 1). Theline 66 for example is a wire with a rectangular cross section. Theelectrical line 66 extends through the plastic part 10 and ends directlyat the end face 11 of the plastic part 10 oriented toward the innerchamber 6. The contact strips 24, 24 a, 24 b, 24 c are printed on theend face 11. Printing technology makes it possible to give the contactstrips any shape at all. For example, the contact strip 24 is connectedto the electrical line 66. This is manufactured so that the contactstrip 24 is given a shape by means of printing technology such that thecontact strip 24 overlaps the end of the electrical line 66 which endsat the end face 11 of the plastic part 10. Since the contact strip 24 isdeposited using printing technology and is consequently very thin, it isimportant that the end of the electrical line 66 which is connected tothe contact strip 24 ends directly with the end face 11 of the plasticpart 10. The electrical line 66 must neither protrude beyond the endface 11 nor produce a recess in the end face 11 at the end of theelectrical line 66, because in both cases, a reliable electricalconnection of the line 66 and the contact strip 24 would not be assured.

The electrical line 66 is divided into partial regions 66 a, 66 b, 66 c,66 d, 66 e, and 66 f (FIG. 1). The partial region 66 a of the electricalline 66 extends starting from the end face 11 of the plastic part 10oriented toward the inner chamber 6. At a short distance from the endface 11, the electrical line 66 is bent at a right angle. The line 66turns into partial region 66 c there. Partial region 66 c extendsessentially parallel to the end face 11 of the plastic part 10 orientedtoward the inner chamber 6. At a certain distance from the first bend inthe line 66, it is bent once again and in partial section 66 d onceagain extends perpendicular to the end face 11. After a certaindistance, the line 66 is bent again and turns into partial region 66 e.Partial region 66 e exits from the material of the plastic part 10. Atthis point, the line 66 constitutes a plug contact 66 f. In the firstpartial region 66 a, a thickening 66 b is formed onto the electricalline 66. In lieu of a thickening, a constriction of the line 66 can alsobe provided.

The distance between the end face 11 and the partial region 66 c of line66 is described below as distance a (FIG. 1). Distance a is chosen to beas small as possible. It is however at least large enough to assuresimple manufacture. Since partial region 66 a of the electrical line 66is very short, even a very different thermal expansion of the electricalline 66 and the plastic part 10 produces only a very slightly differentelongation, so that even when there are extreme temperature changes, theline 66 neither protrudes too far from the end face 11 into the innerchamber 6 nor produces too large a recess in the end face 11.Consequently it is assured that the electrical line 66 remains in goodelectrical contact with the contact strip 24 under all circumstances.

The thickening 66 b does in fact also promote the securing of theelectrical line 66 inside the plastic part 10. However, since thethickening 66 b cannot be made arbitrarily large for technicalmanufacturing reasons, a securing by means of the thickening 66 b isonly possible in a limited way, but is not sufficient. The thickening 66b or a corresponding constriction essentially makes the production ofthe plastic part 10 with the line 66 easier. Depending upon the methodof manufacture, the thickening 66 b can also be omitted.

The partial region 66 d of line 66 is relatively long. As a result, whenthere are temperature changes, relatively large differences in thelength change occur between the plastic part 10 and the line 66 inpartial region 66 d. Since the partial region 66 c of line 66 extendsessentially parallel to the end face 11, a fixing of the line 66 insidethe plastic part 10 is assured at this point. As intended, this resultsin the fact that partial region 66 a is not influenced even by therelatively large length change of the line 66 in partial section 66 d.Even great, extreme temperature changes and therefore great expansiondifferences between the plastic part 10 and the line 66 in partialregion 66 d can scarcely change the position of partial region 66 arelative to the end face 11. By means of partial region 66 c, the line66 is very precisely fixed lateral to the end face 11. The bendingbetween partial region 66 a and partial region 66 d, which is shown byway of example as bending twice, constitutes an expansion bend 72. Thisexpansion bend 72 keeps the length change created in partial region 66 daway from partial region 66 a and ensures that the electrical line 66neither protrudes from the end face 22 nor forms an inadmissible recessthere.

The plastic part 10 also constitutes a plug connection part 74 of a plugcoupling. A cable, not shown, is connected to the rotary angle encodervia the plug coupling; the rotary angle encoder can supply sensorsignals via this cable to a control device which is not shown.

A distance s is plotted in FIG. 1. The distance s marks the spacingbetween the plug contact 66 f and the outer surface of the housing 2.Since the plug connecting part 74 cannot be made arbitrarily smallbecause of the predetermined size of the plug coupling used, the resultis that the dimension s cannot fall below a particular size, which meansthat partial region 66 d must have a particular minimum size. Even ifpartial region 66 d is chosen to be larger still, because of theexpansion bend 72, this partial region 66 d cannot have a negativeinfluence on the connection between the electrical line 66 and thecontact strip 24, even at extreme temperatures.

Apart from the contact strip 24, in the rotary angle encoder shown,another contact strip 24 a and correspondingly, a slider 26 a connectedto the second sensor part 22 are also provided. The contact strip 24 ais connected to an electrical line 66′. Also, the end of this line 66′which forms a plug contact 66 f′ must be far enought removed from thesurface of the housing 2 that a contact can be achieved here as well bymeans of for example a two-row plug coupling. An expansion bend 72′ isalso provided in line 66′.

A housing foot 76 is formed onto the housing 2. With the aid of thehousing foot 76, the rotary angle encoder can be fastened in a stableway to a base provided, for example via screws.

Since the rotation of the coupling part 33 is limited in one directionby the first housing stop 61 and is limited in the other rotationdirection by the second housing stop 62, any excess actuation force iskept away from the cylindrical part 14 and consequently also from thesensor 20.

In addition to the task of adjusting the coupling part 33 into itsstarting position, the restoring spring of the restoring device 56 alsohas the task of acting on the cylindrical part 14 via the coupling 33with a slight force in the axial direction so that in the operatingstate, the stop element 29 rests against the housing 2, as is shown inFIG. 1. In the normal operating state, the stop element 30 does notcontact another part. When the coupling 33 presses axially on thecylindrical shaft 14, the stop element 30 ensures that neither thesliders 26, 26 a, 26 b, 26 c nor other parts of the rotary angle encoderare damaged by excessive pressure.

The plug connection part 74 is a component of a plug coupling; forclarity, the other part of the plug coupling, which is plugged togetherwith the plug connection part 74, is not shown.

In principle, it would be possible to dispose the at least one plugcontact 66 f not lateral to the rotational axis 19 as shown in FIG. 1,but to provide it extending in the same direction, that is parallel tothe rotational axis 19. However, because the plug coupling extendsadjacent to the plug connection part 74, this orientation would have thecertain disadvantage that as a whole, a very long formed body isproduced, which cannot be accommodated in most available installationspaces. In the exemplary embodiment shown, because the plug connectionpart 74 of the plug coupling extends lateral to the rotational axis 19and consequently the electrical cable connected to it is also connectedlateral to the rotational axis 19, considerable advantages are attainedwith regard to the installation space required for the rotary angleencoder. In an advantageous manner, the expansion bend 72 or 72′ allowsthe lateral disposition of the plug contact 66 f or 66 f′ withoutreducing the electrical reliability as a result.

In the exemplary embodiment shown (FIG. 1), one end of the cylindricalshaft 14 protrudes into the bore 40 provided in the coupling 33. Bycorrespondingly reversing the apparatus shown in the picture, though, itis also possible to provide a corresponding bore in the cylindricalshaft 14; then the coupling is embodied so that in this variant, acylindrical shaft of the coupling engages in the bore provided in thecylindrical shaft 14. Also with this variant, by means of an axialadjustment of the coupling 33 in relation to the cylindrical shaft 14,both parts can be adjusted from a first position, in which both parts14, 33 can be rotated in relation to each other, into a second position,in which this rotation is not possible.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, in the first position, the coupling33 can be rotated in relation to the cylindrical shaft 14. This makes arotation possibile and consequently permits an adjustment of thecoupling 33 in relation to the second sensor part 22. The samepossibility of rotation is achieved when the connection between thecylindrical shaft 14 and the second sensor part 22 is embodied so thatboth parts 14, 22 can be adjusted from a first position into a secondposition; in the first position, the cylindrical shaft 14 can be rotatedin relation to the second sensor part 22 and in the second position,these two parts 14, 22 are fixed in relation to each other. In thiscase, the possibility of the adjustment between the coupling 33 and thecylindrical shaft 14 can be omitted. Also with this embodiment variant,in the first position, the coupling 33 can be rotated in relation to thesecond sensor part 22 so that in this variant as well, the coupling 33can be adjusted in relation to the second sensor part 22.

The plastic part 10, the first sensor part 21, the electrical lines 66,66′, the plug contacts 66 f, 66 f′, and the plug connection part 74together constitute a common integrated sensor/plug component 80 whichis rugged, compact, and easy to produce. This component 80 is easy tohandle and almost indestructible. There are no problematic solder pointsand there is no sensitive cable hanging from it. After the connection ofthis sensor/plug component 80 to the housing 2, a rotary angle encoderis achieved which is compact, rugged, and easy to adjust. The rotaryangle encoder with the sensor/plug component 80 embodied according tothe invention offers the possibility of rapid and simple coupling andde-coupling of a continuing cable which is not shown in the drawing. Asshown in FIG. 1, the sensor/plug component 80 is essentially comprisedof the plastic part 10, the integrated sensor part 21, the at least oneelectrical line 66, and the formed-on plug connection part 74; theplastic part 10 can include various plastic parts formed together bycasting.

The foregoing relates to preferred exemplary embodiments of theinvention, it being understood that other variants and embodimentsthereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, thelatter being defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rotary angle encoder for controlling a driveunit, comprising a sensor (20), said sensor (20) includes a first sensorpart (21) and a second sensor part (22), wherein tho first sensor part(21) is supported in a fixed manner and the second sensor part (22) issupported rotatably about a rotational axis (19) relative to the firstsensor part (21) and the second sensor part (22) is adjustable about therotational axis (19) via a coupling (33), the coupling part (33) can bybrought into a first position and into a second position relative to thesecond sensor part (22), wherein in the first position, a rotation aboutthe rotational axis (19) is possible between the second sensor part (22)and the coupling part (33), and in the second position, a rotationbetween the second sensor part (22) and tire coupling (33) is prevented,an end of the second sensor part (22) having a an adjusting tool profilethat accepts an adjusting tool, the coupling (33) having a bore (40)through which the adjusting tool can be inserted to engage the adjustingtool profile, so that, in the first position, the second sensor part(22) can be adjusted relative to the coupling (33) by engagement of theadjusting tool with the adjusting tool profile.
 2. A rotary angleencoder for controlling a drive unit as set forth in claim 1 in which,in the first position of the coupling (33) an essentially frictionalconnection between the coupling part (33) and the second sensor part(22) is formed due to a pressure fit between the coupling (33) and thesecond sensor part (22).
 3. A rotary angle encoder for controlling adrive unit as set forth in claim 2 in which, the second sensor part (22)includes a cylindrical region (41), and the pressure fit between thecoupling (33) and the second sensor part (22) is formed by thecylindrical region (41) being press-fitted into the bore (40).
 4. Arotary angle encoder for controlling a drive unit as set forth in claim3 in which, the cylindrical region (41) has an outside diameter, thebore (40) has an inside diameter, and in a non-assembled state, theoutside diameter of the cylindrical region (41) is greater than theinside diameter of the bore (40).
 5. A rotary angle encoder forcontrolling a drive unit as set forth in claim 1 in which, the adjustingtool profile is non-circular, and matched in shape to the adjusting toolso that the adjusting tool can hold the second sensor part from rotatingwhile the coupling part is in the first position and rotated withrespect to the second sensor part, and when the coupling and the secondsensor part are in the desired relative rotary positions, the couplingpart can be moved to its second position.
 6. A rotary angle encoder forcontrolling a drive unit, comprising a sensor (20), said sensor (20)includes a first sensor part (21) and a second sensor part (22), whereinthe first sensor part (21) is supported in a fixed manner and the secondsensor part (22) is supported rotatably about a rotational axis (19)relative to the first sensor part (21) and the second sensor part (22)is adjustable about the rotational axis (19) via a coupling (33), thecoupling (33) can be brought into a first position and into a secondposition relative to the second sensor part (22), wherein in the firstposition, a rotation about the rotational axis (19) is possible betweenthe second sensor part (22) and the coupling (33), and in the secondposition, a rotation between the second sensor part (22) and thecoupling (33) is prevented, a stop (61) is provided on the first sensorpart (21), an articulation stop (36) is formed on the coupling (33), arestoring device (56) engages the fixed sensor part (21) on one side andthe coupling part (33) on another side, and the restoring device (56)adjusts the coupling (33) counter to the first sensor part (21) so thatthe articulation stop (36) comes into contact with the stop (61).
 7. Arotary angle encoder for controlling a drive unit as set forth in claim6 in which, in the first position of the coupling (33) the essentiallyfrictional connection between the coupling part (33) and the secondsensor part (22) is formed due to a pressure fit between the coupling(33) and the second sensor part (22).
 8. A rotary angle encoder forcontrolling a drive unit as set forth in claim 7 in which, the secondsensor part (22) includes a cylindrical region (41), the coupling (33)includes a bore (40), and the pressure between the coupling (33) and thesecond sensor part (22) is formed by the cylindrical region (41) beingpress-fitted into the bore (40).
 9. A rotary angle encoder forcontrolling a drive unit as set forth in claim 8 in which, thecylindrical region (41) has an outside diameter, the bore (40) has aninside diameter, and in a non-assembled state, the outside diameter ofthe cylindrical region (41) is greater than the inside diameter of thebore (40).